System and method for evaluating the performance of an automotive switch fabric network

Abstract

A system and method for evaluating the performance of an automotive switch fabric network using a diagnostic interface. A diagnostic device and interface is connected to an automotive switch fabric network, comprising of a plurality of communication nodes, through one of the nodes in the switch fabric network. The diagnostic device and interface configures the switch fabric network to operate in a test mode. The diagnostic device and interface will issue a first command to one node to start traffic across a test node at a predetermined traffic rate and a second command to another node to generate a test message that passes through the test node. The test node contains message processing logic that will process the messages as they pass through the test node. A plurality of timestamps is generated in the message processing logic of the test node to monitor the progression of the messages through the processing logic. The test node includes a diagnostic interface agent that collects the timestamp data and reports the data back to the diagnostic interface and device.

1 . A system for evaluating the performance of a vehicle network, the vehicle network including a plurality of nodes joined by communication links for the transmission of data there between, the system comprising: 
 a diagnostic device for configuring the vehicle network in a test mode;    a node in the vehicle network connected to the diagnostic device for receiving a control message from the diagnostic device;    a test node having message processing logic, the message processing logic including the capability of storing a plurality of timestamps that monitor the progressing of a test message through the test node during the test mode;    wherein the control message received from the diagnostic device includes a command to generate a test message through the test node.    
     
     
         2 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the node further receives another control message from the diagnostic device that includes a command to generate a plurality of traffic message through the test node during the test mode.  
     
     
         3 . The system in  claim 2 , wherein the diagnostic device is configured to allow a user to adjust a rate at which the plurality of traffic messages pass through the test node.  
     
     
         4 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the node connected to the diagnostic device is a gateway node, the test node configured to report the plurality of timestamps to the diagnostic device through the gateway node.  
     
     
         5 . The system in  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of timestamps includes at least one timestamp associated with the test message in a receive buffer of the test node.  
     
     
         6 . The system in  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of timestamps includes at least one timestamp associated with the test message being processed by an application in the test node.  
     
     
         7 . The system in  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of timestamps includes at least one timestamp associated with the test message in a transmit buffer of the test node.  
     
     
         8 . A method for evaluating the performance of a vehicle network, the vehicle network including a plurality of nodes joined by communication links for the transmission of data there between, the plurality of nodes including a gateway node, a test node, a first neighboring test node and a second neighboring test node, the method comprising the steps of: 
 configuring the vehicle network in a test mode;    receiving, at the gateway node, a first control message and routing the first control message to the first neighboring test node, the first control message containing a command to generate traffic messages through the test node;    receiving, at the gateway node, a second control message and routing the second control message to the second neighboring test node, the second control message containing a command to send a test message through the test node; and    generating a plurality of timestamps as the test message is sent through the test node.    
     
     
         9 . The method in  claim 8 , wherein the first control message and the second control message is received by the gateway node from a diagnostic device.  
     
     
         10 . The method in  claim 9  further comprising the step of reporting the plurality of generated timestamps to the diagnostic device.  
     
     
         11 . The method in  claim 8 , wherein the first control message further includes a rate for generating traffic messages through the test node.  
     
     
         12 . The method in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of timestamps includes at least one timestamp associated with the test message in a receive buffer of the test node.  
     
     
         13 . The method in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of timestamps includes at least one timestamp associated with the test message being processed by an application in the test node.  
     
     
         14 . The method in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of timestamps includes at least one timestamp associated with the test message in a transmit buffer of the test node.  
     
     
         15 . A method for evaluating the performance of a vehicle network, the vehicle network including a plurality of nodes joined by communication links for the transmission of data there between, the plurality of nodes including a gateway node and a test node, the method comprising the steps of: 
 configuring the vehicle network in a test mode;    sending a first control message to the gateway node, the first control message containing a command to generate traffic messages through the test node;    sending a second control message to the gateway node, the second control message containing a command to send a test message through the test node; and    generating a plurality of timestamps as the test message is sent through the test node.    
     
     
         16 . The method in  claim 15 , wherein the first control message and the second control message is sent to the gateway node by a diagnostic device.  
     
     
         17 . The method in  claim 16  further comprising the step of reporting the plurality of generated timestamps to the diagnostic device.  
     
     
         18 . The method in  claim 15 , wherein the first control message further includes a rate for generating traffic messages through the test node.  
     
     
         19 . The method in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of timestamps includes at least one timestamp associated with the test message in a receive buffer of the test node.  
     
     
         20 . The method in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of timestamps includes at least one timestamp associated with the test message being processed by an application in the test node.  
     
     
         21 . The method in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of timestamps includes at least one timestamp associated with the test message in a transmit buffer of the test node.